RPM Releases Kasey Kahne
Richard Petty Motorsports have announced they have released driver Kasey Kahne from his driving duties behind the wheel of the no. 9 Budweiser Ford, effective immediately.The team also announced that Aric Almirola will drive the no. 9 at this weekend's event at Martinsville Speedway.
Kahne, who has driven the no. 9 car since his first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2004, was in the final year of his contract with RPM and had recently signed on with Hendrick Motorsports. He was expected to drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 before taking over the no. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick in 2012.
His release comes just days after Kahne fell out of the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with brake problems and then refused to get back in the car after the team made repairs, citing an illness as the reason not to rejoin the race. J.J. Yeley was tapped to finish out the race in place of Kahne.
Kahne also openly criticized the teams problems over the last few weeks, calling the recurring brake problems "a mess" and "a joke".
Kahne has not publicly spoken about the dismissal from RPM or his plans for the immediate future, however it is expected he will relieve Reed Sorenson as driver of the no. 83 Red Bull Toyota as soon as this weekend.
Kahne, who has driven the no. 9 car since his first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2004, was in the final year of his contract with RPM and had recently signed on with Hendrick Motorsports. He was expected to drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 before taking over the no. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick in 2012.
His release comes just days after Kahne fell out of the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with brake problems and then refused to get back in the car after the team made repairs, citing an illness as the reason not to rejoin the race. J.J. Yeley was tapped to finish out the race in place of Kahne.
Kahne also openly criticized the teams problems over the last few weeks, calling the recurring brake problems "a mess" and "a joke".
Kahne has not publicly spoken about the dismissal from RPM or his plans for the immediate future, however it is expected he will relieve Reed Sorenson as driver of the no. 83 Red Bull Toyota as soon as this weekend.